09 Sep Launch of Parcelas viura and Parcelas garnacha blanca by Bodegas Dominio de Berzal
Bodegas Dominio de Berzal launches its “Parcelas” collection with two white wines, a Viura and a Garnacha Blanca. The bottles are dressed with one of the latest works by the artist Néstor Basterretxea. A friend of the family, he created this illustration inspired by the Rioja Alavesa landscape, as a tribute to those small and irregular “plots” that make it up.
The design of their labels is a restyling of one of their most iconic wines. With this change, they have opted for a more modern image (along with the cut of the wines), removing the paper and screen-printing directly on the bottle.
Until now they have worked with single varietal Viura. Now, in addition, they are daring with a 100% Garnacha Blanca. They believe that this variety has an incredible potential and that the end consumer likes it very much.
Both wines join the group of high quality whites that are making a comeback in the DOCa Rioja. With their production, the Berzal brothers want to vindicate different and original white wines.
The fact that they are single varietal wines made from two different grapes, Viura and Garnacha Blanca, allows those who taste them to appreciate the nuances and characteristics of each of these two varieties. These are very gastronomic wines from the 2020 vintage, which is considered a very good vintage.
THE LAND AND THE WINEMAKING PROCESS
In the vineyard they look for low yields so that the grapes have the best possible state of ripeness, selecting them to achieve a good balance between alcohol content and acidity. There are very few productions of both. They are limited editions of 1800 bottles of Parcelas Viura and 1900 of Parcelas Garnacha Blanca.
The plot where the Viura grapes come from is called “El Peregigo”. It is over 50 years old. It is a calcareous clay soil. It is located on a hill, facing north, with no slope, in a windy area that helps the vines to ripen during the ripening season. With an altitude of 520 metres, it is in a favourable situation for its growth.
The Garnacha Blanca plot is called “Los Barrancos”. It is about 12 years old. It is planted in calcareous clay soil on a slope. With an altitude of 550 metres, its orientation is northwest.
Both are located in Baños de Ebro and have a very similar climate as they are only 1 kilometre apart. Cold winters (although lately less than in previous years) and hot summers, with rainfall of around 300 to 400 litres per year.
When making the wine, the Berzal brothers take into account the characteristics of each variety so that both express their full potential. After a selection in the vineyard, the grapes are pressed. Parcelas Viura ferments in egg-shaped concrete tanks while Parcelas Garnacha Blanca ferments in 500-litre French oak bocoys. Once this process is finished, both are batonnaged every week to stir the lees for 7 months.
The bocoy gives the Garnacha Blanca a spicy and original touch, while the concrete tank allows the Viura to remain fresh and not lose its minerality.